U.S. patent application number 13/640963 was filed with the patent office on 2013-03-07 for apparatus for conveying eggs.
This patent application is currently assigned to FPS FOOD PROCESSING SYSTEMS B.V.. The applicant listed for this patent is Berend Derk Grootherder, Barend Dinant Hardeman, Eddy Alfred Herre Van Der Goot. Invention is credited to Berend Derk Grootherder, Barend Dinant Hardeman, Eddy Alfred Herre Van Der Goot.
Application Number | 20130056329 13/640963 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44462081 |
Filed Date | 2013-03-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130056329 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grootherder; Berend Derk ;
et al. |
March 7, 2013 |
Apparatus for Conveying Eggs
Abstract
The invention relates to a system and a method for, in a
conveying direction T during conveyance, continuously distributing
a flow or products, for instance eggs, comprising: a distributing
assembly with at least two feed channels extending in a conveying
direction T for each forming a single row of products, wherein at
least edge elements compose the edges of these channels over a
well-defined distribution length and wherein these edge elements
are provided above and adjacent a conveying surface at the
downstream end of a feed conveyor, and a control for monitoring and
controlling the distribution of the products over the channels,
wherein, based on monitoring signals and control signals, from the
downstream end of the channels, only two products are transferred
simultaneously to the conveyor, wherein the control, based on the
monitoring signals and control signals, increases or reduces the
speed of the conveyor according to a continuous adjustment.
Inventors: |
Grootherder; Berend Derk;
(Brummen, NL) ; Van Der Goot; Eddy Alfred Herre;
(Harderwijk, NL) ; Hardeman; Barend Dinant;
(Lunteren, NL) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Grootherder; Berend Derk
Van Der Goot; Eddy Alfred Herre
Hardeman; Barend Dinant |
Brummen
Harderwijk
Lunteren |
|
NL
NL
NL |
|
|
Assignee: |
FPS FOOD PROCESSING SYSTEMS
B.V.
Amstelveen
NL
|
Family ID: |
44462081 |
Appl. No.: |
13/640963 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2011 |
PCT Filed: |
April 15, 2011 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/NL2011/050258 |
371 Date: |
November 21, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
198/444 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65G 47/71 20130101;
B65G 43/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
198/444 |
International
Class: |
B65G 47/31 20060101
B65G047/31; B65G 43/10 20060101 B65G043/10 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Apr 15, 2010 |
EP |
10003982.5 |
Claims
1. A system for, in a conveying direction T during conveyance,
continuously distributing a flow of products, for instance eggs,
over a conveyor, the system before the conveyor at least
comprising: at least one feed conveyor with a substantially flat
conveying surface for feeding the products substantially
horizontally and in mutually unordered fashion in a conveying
direction T, a distributing assembly with at least two feed
channels extending in the conveying direction T for each forming a
single row of products, wherein at least edge elements compose the
edges of these channels over a well-defined distribution length and
wherein these edge elements are arranged above and adjacent the
conveying surface at the downstream end of the feed conveyor, and a
control for monitoring and controlling the distribution of the
products over said channels, wherein, in use, monitoring signals
and control signals are produced, and wherein, based on said
monitoring signals and control signals, from the downstream end of
the at least two channels at least two products are transferred
simultaneously to the conveyor, characterized in that based on the
monitoring signals and the control signals, the control adjusts the
speed of the said conveyor according to a continuous
adjustment.
2. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the system
is provided with a monitoring system comprising: a flow gauge at
the upstream side of the feed conveyor, configured for measuring at
a well-defined position on the feed conveyor the flow rate of
products, and for producing flow rate signals.
3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the monitoring system is
further provided with at least one presence detector at the
downstream end of a said channel whereby presence signals are
produced which indicate the presence or absence of a product at the
downstream end of said channel.
4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the monitoring system is
further provided with two mutually spaced apart presence detectors
per channel.
5. A system according to claim 2, characterized in that the flow
gauge comprises a sluice with substantially straight wall elements,
and in particular with means for detecting a position of the wall
elements, which position of the wall elements during use depends on
the flow rate of the products.
6. A system according to claim 5, wherein the wall elements are
positioned just above the conveying surface of the feed conveyor
and converge relative to the conveying direction T.
7. A system according to claim 6, wherein the wall elements are
rotatable from an initial position at minimum feed (i.e. a first
relatively low flow rate) to a passage position at larger feed
(i.e. at a second flow rate that is higher than said relatively low
flow rate), while the flow gauge is configured for determining said
flow rate in particular based on measured wall element positions in
combination with a speed of the feed conveyor.
8. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that said feed
conveyor comprises a first and a second sub-conveyor successive in
conveying direction, wherein the first sub-conveyor extends
upstream of said channels, for instance partly under a said flow
gauge, and wherein the second sub-conveyor extends substantially
under said channels.
9. A system according to claim 1, characterized in that the
distributing assembly further comprises a bottom distributing plate
which is provided just above and adjacent the conveying surface,
for instance directly downstream relative to a said flow gauge,
wherein the bottom distributing plate comprises channel-shaped
plate recesses to each of said channels.
10. A method for controlling the system according to claim 1, at
least comprising: measuring flow rate signals, and measuring
presence signals, wherein at least above a predetermined threshold
for the said flow rate signals, the speed of at least one conveyor,
for instance said at least one feed conveyor, is increased or
reduced, respectively, at a larger flow rate or smaller flow rate,
respectively, with a continuous adjustment.
11. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the speed
of only a second conveyor is increased or reduced.
12. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that the speed
of said feed conveyor is substantially equal to the speed of the
conveyor.
13. A method according to claim 10, wherein the speed of the
conveyor is increased when the product flow rate exceeds a
predetermined threshold value, and is held constant at a minimum
value when the product flow rate is lower than said threshold
value.
14. A method according to claim 10, wherein adjustment of the
conveyor speed is carried out substantially on the basis of the
following equation, for the case where the measured product flow
rate is higher than a threshold value: v(t)=v.sub.min+CF(t) wherein
v(t) is the conveyor speed, C is a constant, v.sub.min is a
predetermined minimum conveyor speed and F(t) is the measured
product flow rate at time t.
15. A method according to claim 14, wherein the conveyor speed is
not adjusted if the measured product flow rate is lower than said
threshold value.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a system and to a method
for simultaneously conveying and distributing a substantially
continuous flow of products such as eggs. More particularly, a
system is involved as mentioned in the preamble of claim 1.
[0002] Such a system is known from US2009020395. In this system, at
a set speed of a sorting conveyor, the feed of the products, i.e.
eggs, to this conveyor is readjusted. In this field of technology,
for this path in the process of sorting eggs, most often, a roller
conveyor is used. As is generally known, these rollers form a row
of successive rollers and such a conveyor often comprises several
side-by-side rows. Each pair of rollers positioned one behind the
other forms a conveying position for an egg. For optimal use of
such a machine, efforts are directed towards actually providing
each pair with an egg, in which case a 100% degree of filling is
involved. Most often, at the feed side of such a roller conveyor,
an endless conveyor is utilized. Therefore, with this, the eggs
will have to be fed in a very even, and especially in an evenly
distributed manner, for realizing such a degree of filling. To that
end, according to the invention in US2009020395, the following
steps are taken: [0003] monitoring the flow of eggs with a camera
above the feed [0004] therewith controlling, on the one hand, the
speed of the conveyor belt [0005] if required, when the feed is for
instance too great, adding return belts for removing the surplus
from the flow and later reintroducing it into the main flow.
[0006] An inevitable consequence of such a control is that
conveying positions remain vacant quite regularly.
[0007] The apparatus according to the invention likewise relates to
feeding and distributing eggs from a flow of eggs as evenly as
possible onto a follow-up conveyor, hereinafter in this
specification simply called conveyor. However, unlike in the
above-described technology, the conveyor does not involve a sorting
machine, but a packaging feed conveyor. This means that the
supplied eggs have to be fed, distributed and arranged such that a
flow of eggs is thereby obtained which is appropriate for suitably
filling successively supplied packaging units. Generally known and
utilized are trays or cartons with nests which during packaging are
always filled completely. This also means that, as in the situation
as described in US2009020395, an unordered flow, i.e. a flow coming
mostly from laying houses, has to be transformed into a highly
ordered flow, but more importantly that ordering cannot but result
in a 100% degree of filling upon supply to and transfer to the
conveyor. In this field of technology, such a conveyor is often
called a `farmpacker`.
[0008] In order to remedy the above outlined shortcoming and
thereby provide for the necessity described, the system according
to the invention is characterized in that on the basis of the
monitoring signals and control signals, the control increases or
reduces the speed of the conveyor according to a continuous
adjustment.
[0009] Thus, not only a 100% degree of filling is obtained with
advantage, but also it has been found, especially, that standstill
of the conveyor is avoided to a large extent and more efficient
processing takes place. It is precisely standstill that constitutes
an interruption of the processing of the flow of often large
quantities from the poultry houses.
[0010] It is noted that in the past, several solutions have been
conceived to remedy this shortcoming. All these solutions cannot
avoid regular stopping of, in particular, the conveyor. An example
of this is described, for instance, in NL7900665.
[0011] The invention can for instance also be described as follows:
a system for, in a conveying direction T during conveyance,
continuously distributing a flow of products, for instance eggs,
over a first conveyor, the system at least comprising: [0012] a
feed conveyor with a substantially flat conveying surface; [0013] a
distributing assembly with at least two feed channels extending in
the conveying direction T for each forming respective product rows;
[0014] a control for monitoring and controlling the distribution of
the products over the channels mentioned, wherein the control is
configured for generating monitoring signals and control signals,
the control being configured for regulating delivery of products
(i.e. from the channels to the first conveyor) based on the
monitoring signals and control signals, in particular such that in
use, the feed channels simultaneously each transfer one product to
said first conveyor, characterized in that the control is designed
for adjusting, based on the monitoring signals and control signals,
a speed of at least one conveyor according to a continuous
adjustment, depending on, in particular, a product flow rate
determined by the control.
[0015] The conveyor, whose speed can be adjusted under the
influence of the control, can for instance comprise a conveyor of
the distributing assembly, and in addition, for instance, the first
conveyor mentioned (i.e. a discharge conveyor).
[0016] Further elaborations of the apparatus according to the
present invention have one or more of the following features,
that a monitoring system is comprised, with at least: [0017] a flow
gauge at the upstream side of the feed conveyor for measuring at a
well defined position on the feed conveyor, the flow rate of
products, whereby flow rate signals are produced, and [0018] at
least one presence detector at the downstream end of a channel
whereby presence signals are produced which indicate the presence
or absence of a product at the downstream end of the channel; that
the flow gauge comprises a sluice with substantially straight wall
elements which are positioned just above the conveying surface of
the feed conveyor and converge relative to the conveying direction
T, wherein a part of the flow of the products is caught by the wall
elements, wherein the wall elements are rotatable from an initial
position at minimal feed, to a passage position at larger feed, and
wherein the flow rate is determined with associated, measured wall
element locations and with the speed of the feed conveyor; that the
feed conveyor comprises a first and a second sub-conveyor
successive in the conveying direction, [0019] with the first
sub-conveyor extending partly below the flow gauge, and [0020] with
the second sub-conveyor extending substantially below the channels
mentioned; and that the distributing assembly further comprises a
bottom distributing plate of fan-like configuration which is
disposed just above and adjacent the conveyor surface directly
downstream relative to the flow gauge, wherein the bottom
distributing plate comprises channel-shaped plate recesses to each
of the channels.
[0021] The present invention further comprises a method for
operating the apparatus according to the present invention, wherein
the method is at least comprised of [0022] measuring flow rate
signals, and [0023] measuring presence signals, wherein at least
above a predetermined threshold for the flow rate signals, the
speed of the at least one feed conveyor is increased or reduced at
a larger flow rate or smaller flow rate, respectively, with a
continuous adjustment.
[0024] The speed of only the second conveyor (for instance a second
sub-conveyor of the feed conveyor) may be increased or reduced.
Further, the speed of the feed conveyor may, for instance, be equal
to the speed of the (discharge) conveyor.
[0025] What is obtained with great advantage is that not only the
filling proceeds continuously, but also the treatment and
processing of these fragile products is very gentle.
[0026] A method according to the invention can also be defined, for
instance, as follows: a method for controlling the system according
to the invention, wherein a flow rate of fed products is
determined, and wherein preferably the presence of products in each
of the channels is detected, wherein a speed of at least one
conveyor is adjusted, in particular according to a continuous
adjustment, when a product flow rate determined by the control
exceeds a predetermined flow rate threshold value. Preferably, the
speed is then adjusted directly proportionally to the measured flow
rate. The speed is, for instance, not adjusted but held constant at
a predetermined minimum value when the measured flow rate is below
the threshold value. Preferably, a flow gauge is used, which is
provided with movable wall elements, while the relative position of
the wall elements is detected, which position depends on the flow
rate mentioned.
[0027] Further additionally advantageous elaborations of the
invention are described in the subclaims.
[0028] Further details and explanation will be given in the
following on the basis of a drawing. In the drawing:
[0029] FIG. 1 gives a schematic top plan view of the system
according to the present invention, and
[0030] FIG. 2 shows a graphic example of a manner of control with a
particular type of egg flow.
[0031] In FIG. 1, a diagram of the system of the invention is
represented in top plan view, with the flow of eggs or conveying
direction T proceeding from the bottom of the FIGURE to the top of
the FIGURE. The system comprises (preceding a discharge conveyor
4): [0032] a feed conveyor 1 with a substantially flat conveying
surface for feeding the products (in this case eggs) substantially
horizontally and in mutually unordered fashion in the conveying
direction T, [0033] a distributing assembly with at least two feed
channels 30 extending in the conveying direction T, for each
forming one row of products, wherein at least edge elements 31
compose edges of these channels 30 over a well-defined distribution
length and wherein these edge elements 30 are for instance arranged
above and adjacent an opposite conveying surface.
[0034] In use, (on the basis of monitoring signals and control
signals to be discussed hereinafter) from the downstream end of the
channel, products are simultaneously transferred to the discharge
conveyor 4 (one product per channel, for instance at least two
products at the same time, given at least two respective channels
30).
[0035] In particular, in use, the eggs (not represented) are fed in
an unordered fashion by an endless belt 1, and wholly ordered on
rollers are passed on with a conveyor 4 to packaging units (not
represented here either). These conveying apparatuses 1, 4
represented here are driven by a drive 10 and a drive 40,
respectively, well known apparatuses to those skilled in the
art.
[0036] A feed conveyor 2 which has, in general, a substantially
flat conveying surface, for instance in the shape of an endless
flat belt, feeds the eggs along the different parts of a
distributing assembly 3. The feed conveyor 2 is disposed between
the upstream endless belt 1 and the downstream (discharge) conveyor
4.
[0037] In the exemplary embodiment represented here, the feed
conveyor 2 comprises two sub-conveyors, a first sub-conveyor 20
with drive 200, and further downstream a second sub-conveyor 21,
with a drive 210, likewise mostly endless flat belts again, with
drive devices known to those skilled in the art.
[0038] The distributing assembly 3 comprises channels 30 a, b, six
in the represented exemplary embodiment, and associated edge
elements 31a, b, seven in this situation, for forming the six
channels 30.
[0039] Such channels 30 and edge elements 31 are known, for
instance from EP823208. In that publication are described not only
details about the form and placement of these elements but also the
manner of utilization, in particular the movement thereof. It has
appeared that performing settable oscillations or reciprocating
movements substantially parallel to the conveying surface
eliminates congestions in the flow and hence yields a smooth,
continuous flow of eggs.
[0040] An important part of the system is a control, provided with
a monitoring system. More particularly, the control of the flow of
eggs comprises, on the one hand, monitoring and measuring this flow
and, on the other hand, controlling the flow therewith (i.e. with a
detection result of this monitoring and measuring).
[0041] For such a monitoring system in the exemplary embodiment
according to FIG. 1, the control is provided with a flow gauge 5,
and sensors 60, 61, in particular photocells, more particularly two
rows of photocells 60, 61.
[0042] More particularly, the flow gauge 5 is provided at the
upstream side of the feed conveyor 2, for thereat measuring the
flow rate, that is, the number of eggs passing the gauge 5 per time
unit (at the location of a measuring surface). The flow gauge 5
used here comprises a sluice with two walls 50 a, b converging
relative to the conveying direction T (movable away from each
other, for instance rotatable) which form a passage for the eggs
fed (on the feed conveyor 2). Such a sluice has a minimum passage.
The sluice is configured such that eggs supplied in use can push
against the walls 50a, b for pushing the walls 50a, b outwards
(away from each other) (for instance against a spring force),
whereby the passage is enlarged. Thus, the size of the passage
depends on the amount and speed of incoming eggs. In this exemplary
embodiment, the displacement of the walls 50 a, b is determined
with an inductive proximity sensor. With signals thus obtained
(from this sensor), when combined with the speed (of the feed
conveyor) and any further data of eggs, the flow rate or a quantity
related thereto can be determined.
[0043] Further downstream, rows of photocells 60, 61 monitor
whether the through-flow is sufficient and remains sufficient. More
particularly, both the most downstream position of each channel 30
is monitored as well as the continuity of a, continuous or
non-continuous, row of eggs in such a channel 30. As follows from
the drawing, in this example, two photocells 60, 61 per channel 30
are provided, for monitoring respective egg flows through this
channel 30 at two different locations (at a distance from each
other, viewed in the conveying direction T).
[0044] Depending on these monitoring signals (comprising signals
generated by the flow gauge 5 and signals generated by the
photocells 60, 61), control signals can be composed which result in
the downstream end of the channel 30 being filled up with eggs as
much as possible, for instance by increasing the speed of the
second sub-conveyor 21 at increasing supply, while simultaneously
raising the speed of the downstream conveyor 4.
[0045] In the exemplary embodiment drawn, the distributing assembly
further comprises a bottom distributing plate 7 of fan-like
configuration with plate recesses 71 in the form of channels. This
plate 7 is also provided just above the conveying surface; the
recesses 71 provide for guidance of the eggs and formation of flows
directly to the entrance openings of the channels 30 a, b. Further,
inclining plates 8 a, b, are represented for feeding the flow of
eggs in a more directed manner downstream to the plate 7.
[0046] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that in this
so-called field of technology of `design` and of `monitoring and
control` a great many variants are conceivable, for instance [0047]
other sensors, for instance cameras, with camera control coupled
thereto; [0048] other presence sensors than photocells, for
instance electromechanical plates as switches; [0049] other plates,
more particularly plates with other recesses and very specifically
selected angles of inclination, or also pieces of material, called
islands, according to WO2007117140; [0050] other combinations of
photocells, or even omission of the flow gauge, and also
combinations where a camera is directed toward a different part of
the supplied egg flow; [0051] dividing the feed conveyor 3 in, for
instance, three sub-conveyors, and therewith simultaneously
replacing the plate 7; [0052] measuring egg weights and the
associated mass distribution for fine tuning control behaviour.
[0053] In FIG. 2, an example is given of the manner of control of
an apparatus according to the present invention.
[0054] In the two upper graphs, flow rate measurements are
represented as a function of time, with the flow rate measurements
in arbitrary units and the time in seconds. In the bottom graph,
the speed of the second sub-conveyor is shown as a function of time
over the same time interval.
[0055] More particularly, in the top graph only the flow rate
measurements are represented. The middle graph shows in the same
curve as the top graph a horizontal line which is called
threshold.
[0056] In the bottom graph, the speed is shown to be controlled in
accordance with the varying flow rate, when the flow rate exceeds
this threshold.
[0057] If the flow rate falls below the threshold, the speed falls
back to a threshold speed.
[0058] Thus, in this example, the control is configured to compare
a detected flow rate to a predetermined flow rate threshold value.
The control is configured not to adjust the speed (of the
sub-conveyor 21), and to keep it at a predetermined minimum speed
value v.sub.min, if the control determines that the flow rate does
not exceed a predetermined flow rate threshold value.
[0059] The control is further configured to adjust the speed (of
the sub-conveyor 21) if the control determines that the flow rate
does exceed the flow rate threshold value. The adjustment
comprises, for instance, a speed adjustment directly proportional
to the flow rate, starting from the minimum speed value. In that
case, the speed v(t) at time t is:
v(t)=v.sub.min+CF(t)
where C is a constant, and F(t) is the flow rate at time t.
[0060] It is noted that in the example according to FIG. 2, the
presence of eggs (in the channels) is each time determined by the
first row of photocells 60. Any absence of eggs at the second row
of photocells 61 plays no part in the present control.
[0061] Further, the speed of the downstream conveyor 4 in the
control chosen here is coupled to that of the second sub-conveyor
21. In practice, this means that the speeds of the conveyors 21, 4
have a fixed ratio and are adjusted accordingly above the indicated
threshold (in the above-described manner). Mostly, this ratio is
unequal to 1. For instance, the speed of the flat sub-conveyor 21
will be slightly higher than that of the conveyor 4 to still
maintain sufficient pressure with this flat belt.
[0062] As indicated, the flow rate is monitored in a continuous
manner while stopping (of the system) can be avoided in this
situation.
[0063] It will be clear to those skilled in the art that further
variants and combinations are possible which are considered to fall
within the protective scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *